Firefighters tackle blaze on Greek island of Chios as premier warns of 'dangerous summer'
Firefighters are racing to tackle a wildfire that broke out on the eastern Aegean island of Chios as Greece’s prime minister warns of a dangerous summer ahead
ATHENS, Greece (AP) — Firefighters were racing to tackle a wildfire that broke out on the eastern Aegean island of Chios Monday, as Greece’s prime minister warned of a dangerous summer ahead and said the public’s help was essential in limiting the impact of wildfires.
Emergency services issued evacuation orders for those in the Metohi area of western Chios, urging them to head to a nearby beach. The blaze comes a day after the fire department managed to tame two large forest fires near Athens that had been fanned by strong winds.
“We have had an exceptionally difficult June regarding weather conditions, with high levels of drought and unusually strong winds for this season,” Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said Monday during a Cabinet meeting. This year’s summer, he said, is predicted to be particularly dangerous regarding wildfires.
